Li Ying took a deep breath and carefully examined the accounts detailing the flow of silver.
No wonder this mere fifth - rank tea - tax inspector was so overbearing and even maintained a group of dead - end fighters while living a life of luxury!
For example, on the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, when purchasing a batch of Phoenix Dan Cong tea to entertain the envoys coming to the capital, the original price per catty was only 300 taels of silver. However, on the invoice submitted by the tea - tax inspector to the Honglu Temple, the unit price was inflated to 500 taels!
Ordinary corrupt officials, when colluding with merchants, would at least leave a profit of a hundred or so taels to silence the tea merchants.
But this tea - tax inspector had an insatiable appetite. He asked Granny Ling to forge the tea merchant's handwriting. Both the unit price and the quantity were false, and every bit of the difference went straight into his pocket.
If one day the truth came out and the court investigated, the innocent tea merchant would take the blame. At most, he would only be charged with negligence in supervision. After some bribery, he would only suffer a few days in prison and then it would be over.
The salt - tax inspector was no different. However, since it was difficult to manipulate the salt price, he resorted to creating false items in the amount of salt collected.
Li Ying sneered. As the saying goes, a loving parent always plans far ahead for their children. This salt - tax inspector was truly a doting father. He was even willing to send Granny Ling, a master at cooking the books, as a dowry for his daughter.
The only thing he miscalculated was that although Granny Ling was stubborn, she was not a fool.
She was infatuated with the salt - tax inspector, but her whole - hearted devotion began to wither the moment he sent her away as a dowry.
Granny Ling's eyes were red. No one knew whether it was from the bloodshot eyes caused by staying up all night or from the heart - breaking sorrow.
It was not until dawn that she finally finished copying all the accounts and solemnly handed them to Li Ying.
"Boss Li, there is also my confession after these accounts. Every word is like blood and every cry is like a tear. It records all the abuse of servants and disregard for human life that I witnessed in the two inspectors' mansions. If you want to sue, I'm ready to testify at any time."
Li Ying took a cursory glance and was shocked.
The current emperor implemented benevolent policies, and most of the officials were kind - hearted. But the wife of the tea - tax inspector would kill servants to vent her anger whenever she was dissatisfied. It was truly cruel!
The incident of Master Ge was also among them.
It turned out that after the inspector's wife asked Granny Ling to forge a letter, the truth came out within a few days and was detected by the salt - tax inspector.
He hastily arranged a marriage for his daughter. Still not satisfied and afraid that this incident would damage his reputation, he simply ordered someone to sneak into the tea shop on a dark and windy night to kill the old tea master.
Fortunately, Master Ge was heart - broken and couldn't sleep all night. He got drunk in the wine shop and thus narrowly escaped death.
After that, he lost interest in business. The salt - tax inspector was happy to see this and generously "took in" the apprentices and tea masters dismissed by him. Without any effort, he got a ready - made tea shop as a dowry for his daughter.
The inspector's wife, because of the prosperous business of this tea shop, was looked up to by her husband's family. Finally, the couple lived in harmony and respected each other.
Such human - life cases were too numerous to enumerate. After getting married, the inspector's wife became even more extreme. For example, if a maid accidentally pulled her scalp while combing her hair in the morning or spilled some tea because her hand trembled, she would be locked in the ear - room and left to die. Such tragedies were everywhere.
No wonder the salt - tax inspector, upon hearing that Granny Ling had gained her freedom, immediately sent his dead - end fighters to kill her and cover up the evidence.
Li Ying frowned slightly. If those dead - end fighters used a wheel - battle strategy to wear down Lu Xunguang, he might not be able to hold on and would eventually be killed.
Why would all their efforts go to waste at the last moment?
Lu Xunguang noticed her hesitation. He wrapped the soft sword around his waist and put a fox fur cloak on her.
"A Ying, could you tie up my hair for me?"
He put on a black cloak, covering his tight - fitting clothes. He no longer looked like a young and impulsive man, but rather like a mature and solemn family head, intimidating without showing anger.
Li Ying vaguely guessed that the dead - end fighters who had fled in a hurry were probably related to Lu Xunguang's plan. Since he didn't say anything, presumably he didn't want her to worry, so she didn't ask any more questions. She gently tied up his long hair and put on a cap for him, and said softly, "Brother Lu, come back early and be careful."
Lu Xunguang leaned over and avoided the sight of Granny Sun and the others. He left a light kiss on her cheek.
"A Ying, dawn is coming. Go back to your room and take a short nap. By the time you wake up, everything will be settled."
Li Ying watched him go out, but how could she fall asleep?
A Man and Ru Yi saw that she was restless, so they volunteered to go and find out the news together.
"Sister, sister, something really big has happened!"
As soon as A Man entered the door, she couldn't wait to shout at Li Ying.
Li Ying quickly got up and poured her a cup of hot tea.
"No wonder the tea - tax inspector was in such a hurry to recall his dead - end fighters. Sister, you don't know. Right now, there's a huge commotion in the tea - tax inspector's mansion!"
The news that several tea gardens had been deliberately set on fire had already spread far and wide, and the remaining tea shops in the capital were all in a panic.
Normally, this undercurrent should not have erupted so quickly.
But Master Ge had many students all over the place. Over the years, many of his disciples had spread to tea shops all over the country.
Lu Xunguang obtained Master Ge's personal letter and sent this old case to these disciples day and night at top speed.
Master Ge had lived a noble and upright life, and had devoted himself to teaching. When his disciples heard that their teacher's family had been ruined and that it was related to the tea - tax inspector, they naturally couldn't stand by.
Some of these disciples had already become outstanding tea masters, while others were big tea merchants in charge of tea mountains.
At Lu Xunguang's call, they responded in droves. They stopped all the harvesting and supply of green tea.
As the New Year was approaching, it was a crucial time for tea consumption. The tea inventory in the capital would run out soon.
The tea shops in the capital finally found out that it was because the tea - tax inspector had made enemies, so they flocked to the tea - tax inspector's mansion, demanding an explanation.
The disciples of Master Ge from all over the country were also quickly brought to the capital by Lu Xunguang. United in hatred, they were determined to get an explanation for their master, mistress and the unjustly - killed grand - master.
In order to show his integrity, the tea - tax inspector only had a few old, weak, sick and disabled people with no fighting ability in his mansion on the surface. How could they withstand the questioning from the angry tea merchants? Afraid that these unscrupulous merchants and mobs would break into the mansion regardless of the law, he had to urgently recall his dead - end fighters to guard the house.
"Sister, you don't know. Brother - in - law Lu was really imposing today!"
A Man's eyes sparkled with excitement as she continued to chatter.
"If it were just these tea merchants coming to demand an explanation, it wouldn't be too terrifying. But Granny Ling's confession came just in time. The vermilion gate of the tea - tax inspector's mansion might have been smashed by now!"